The Reunion

Meanwhile back at the house, Sadie is finishing up in the guest room when a pale yellow box with a grey ribbon under the bed catches her eye. The young woman chooses to ignore it for the time being as she pushes it back under the bed, it’s contents still too painful to go through for the grieving woman. Sadie is thankfully soon pulled from her thoughts when the team of horses can be heard making their way to the front of the small country home. She takes a deep breath while looking around to make sure that everything is in order before making her way out to the huge wraparound porch. Paul smiles at his wife as he puts the suitcases on the steps then goes to help Sylvia out of the wagon before going to take care of the horses. Soon, Sylvia is embracing her best friend. It has been a long four months away, but she’s back and has no intentions of leaving her newfound home. Sadie helps get Sylvia settled into the large guest room before the women head to the living room where Paul is waiting with the mugs of freshly brewed coffee. Sylvia smiles at the loving couple sitting across from her as a pang of regret bubbles within her. The young woman pushes the feeling aside as quickly as it surfaces. Sadie takes Sylvia’s right hand in hers as she says “I’m sure that you must be tired from your long trip, but first we need to tell you about Noah.” Sylvia notices for the first time since arriving that the tears are welling up in her best friend’s eyes as an uneasy feeling washes over her before Sadie says “Noah passed away three weeks ago. In his sleep. I didn’t want to tell you in a letter.” Paul grasps his wife’s free hand with his calloused hands as he asks “Sylvia, where is Phillip? Why isn’t he with you? Is he coming on a later stage?” It’s Sylvia’s turn to share, but her breath stops and the words catch in her throat as she thinks of her fiancé who should be here with her on this trip. He called off their engagement and it broke her heart. Sooner than most people would expect though, Sylvia picked up the pieces of her heart and held her head high while trying to figure out what her next steps would be. After some time the young woman was able to secure a teaching position in Maine after three months of looking; she jumped at the chance to start a new life far from Colorado and her broken dreams.